Scene 1 – The Arrival at HQ
The black SUV convoy slid through the heavy steel gates of the secure ISI facility in Karachi just before dawn. The streets outside were still dark, the air heavy with the faint scent of the sea. Inside the lead vehicle, Zayan sat in silence, his eyes fixed forward. Beside him, Ubaid scrolled through the preliminary capture reports on a rugged military tablet.
The seven captured Indian agents sat in the rear vehicles, hands bound, black hoods over their heads. Two heavily armed operatives guarded each prisoner.
"Security detail in place?" Zayan asked without looking at Ubaid.
"Yes, sir. Triple cordon. Perimeter's clear," Ubaid replied.
The SUVs rolled to a stop inside the underground parking bay. The guards pulled the prisoners out one by one. Zayan's voice was low but firm.
"Take them to the black wing. Interrogation room one. Separate holding cells."
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Scene 2 – Face to Face
The interrogation room was stark — a single metal table, two chairs, dim overhead light casting harsh shadows. Zayan walked in slowly, his steps deliberate. Two guards flanked the door.
The hood was pulled off the first prisoner — a lean man in his mid-30s with sharp eyes and a faint smirk that suggested he was no stranger to interrogation.
Zayan placed a file on the table, opened it, and slid a black-and-white photograph toward the man.
"This was taken two nights ago," Zayan began, his voice calm. "You, near the outskirts of Hyderabad. Carrying an unmarked satchel. Care to explain?"
The agent's lips curled into a faint grin. "Routine training exercise. Nothing more."
Zayan leaned forward slightly. "Funny thing about routine exercises — they don't usually involve sneaking into another country at midnight."
The man stayed silent. Zayan tapped his finger on the photo.
"You've got two options. Tell me why you were here, and maybe you see daylight again. Or… we dig, and when we dig, things get unpleasant."
Still, the agent stared back without a word.
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Scene 3 – Ubaid's Entry
The door creaked open and Ubaid stepped in, holding a folder marked CLASSIFIED. He placed it on the table in front of Zayan and whispered, "Sir, cross-check from Benny confirms this one's name — Arjun Mehra. RAW infiltration division. Special operations."
Zayan's expression didn't change. He turned the folder so Arjun could see the stamped photo inside.
"So, Arjun Mehra," Zayan said evenly. "You've been busy — Kashmir, Nepal, even a stint in Sri Lanka. And now, you think Hyderabad is just another holiday destination?"
Arjun's smirk faltered.
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Scene 4 – The Silence Breaks
"Where are the others supposed to regroup?" Zayan pressed.
No reply.
Zayan nodded to Ubaid, who reached under the table and pressed a small remote. The overhead light flickered — a subtle but deliberate intimidation tactic.
Finally, Arjun spoke, his tone edged with frustration. "You think you'll get something useful from me? You're wasting your time."
Zayan leaned back. "We already have something useful. We have you."
He stood, signaling the guards. "Take him back. Bring in the next one."
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Scene 5 – Aaliya's Call
As Zayan stepped into the corridor, his secure phone buzzed. It was Aaliya, calling from the cyber-ops room.
"Sir, you'll want to see this," she said quickly. "Benny just sent a coded burst. RAW command is in chaos. They've initiated 'Protocol Grey' — wiping operational traces. And… there's more."
Zayan walked briskly toward the operations center. "Go on."
"They're trying to frame the capture as a 'training mishap' in Indian media. But Benny says an extraction op is already being planned for these seven. They might try within forty-eight hours."
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Scene 6 – The Ops Briefing
In the dimly lit operations center, multiple screens showed satellite feeds, intercepted comms, and city maps. Aliza was already inside, typing rapidly on her terminal.
Ubaid joined them, placing a steaming cup of coffee on the table. "If they're going to attempt an extraction, we need to predict the approach. Karachi perimeter is tight, but they could use civilian disguise."
Zayan nodded slowly. "Double the outer surveillance ring. But… keep it quiet. If they want to come for them — we let them come. I want to know who they send and how far they're willing to go."
Aliza looked up from her terminal. "Sir, we can plant false chatter — make them think we're transferring the prisoners to a different facility."
Zayan's eyes sharpened. "Do it. And make it believable."
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Scene 7 – Interrogation: The Second Agent
Back in the black wing, Ubaid took over questioning. The second prisoner, a younger man, looked nervous, sweat beading on his forehead.
Ubaid flipped through a dossier. "Ravi Kumar. Communications specialist. You've been listening to our chatter, haven't you?"
Ravi avoided his gaze.
"You think silence is going to protect you? Let me make it simple — your people have already cut you off. We know about the encrypted satellite pings you sent before crossing the border. We even know the call sign you used — 'Falcon-6.'"
Ravi's eyes flickered. That was enough for Ubaid to know he'd hit the mark.
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Scene 8 – Benny's Second Transmission
An encrypted alert pinged on the main ops screen. Aaliya decrypted it in seconds. Benny's voice came through in a low, urgent tone over the secure channel.
"Zayan, RAW's internal memo just leaked — they're blaming the loss of the seven on a 'navigation error' during a joint exercise. But the truth? Those men were carrying target coordinates for a series of sabotage ops inside Sindh. The orders came from the top — direct from the special directorate."
The room went silent for a beat.
Zayan finally spoke. "Tell Benny… good work. And tell her — if RAW moves first, we move faster."
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Scene 9 – Shadows Tighten
Late that night, Zayan walked through the holding corridor alone. The muffled sound of footsteps followed him — a sign the facility guards were on full alert.
He paused outside the last cell. The man inside was older, his face weathered, his gaze unflinching. Zayan knew this one wouldn't break easily.
"We'll talk tomorrow," Zayan said quietly. "And tomorrow… will be different."
As he left, he passed Ubaid in the hallway.
"They'll try something soon," Ubaid said.
"Yes," Zayan replied. "And when they do… they'll regret ever stepping foot on our soil."
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